Railway truck



Oct. 11, 1938. D. s. BARROWS 2,132,381

RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Aug. 22, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 1 fiyalz ggggrfiows 47 1 BY I ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1938 'D. s. BARROWS RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Aug. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11,1938. D. s. BARRows RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Aug. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 )3 2017a dawn/ ows INVENTOR 7/ ATTORNEY Y Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRUCK Application August 22,1932, Serial No. 629,953

14 Claims.

tion of the side frames, bolsters and associated parts thereof.

10 The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to improve the construction of railway trucks, and particularly that of side frames, bolsters and associated parts, whereby assembly and detachment of the parts is facili- 15 tated.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck comprising side frames supporting bolster springs and an associated bolster, each side frame comprising struts spac- 20 ing upper and lower members thereof, and interposed between adjacent coils of said springs.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a side frame having bolster guide columns, the guiding faces of which are diagonally 25 disposed and preferably formed on radial plan? intersecting the vertical axis of the frame.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a side frame having bolster guide columns, the inner faces of which are formed 30 concave to correspond with the 'contour of a cylinder whose axis coincides with the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse vertical planes of the frame, the sides of said columns being radial with respect to said axis.

35 An additional object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolster is connected to the side frames by locking shims formed to maintain the same area of contact regardless of bolster angularity, the side surfaces of the bolster guide columns being, for'that purpose, either formed on radial vertical planes extending from the center of a cylinder, the axis of which corresponds to the vertical axis of the frame, the inner surfaces of said guide columns 45 being formed as cylindrical segments, and the locking shims being formed as curved plates with radial flanges at their ends and of substantially uniform thickness to hold the bolster interlocked with respect to the frames, while allowing for 50 ready disconnection upon the removal of the bolster springs and dropping of the shims without any necessity for lowering the bolster, or the bolster guide columns being of conventional form with their adjacent faces parallel and the side 55 flanges of each aligned with the corresponding side flanges of the other, with the locking shims formed with outwardly extending flanges adapted to embrace or interlock with the guide columns, and inner faces formed as cylindrical surfaces, with the ends terminating in radial surfaces and the associated bolster formed with complementary surfaces to thereby accomplish a similar purpose.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a railwayvehicle truck in which the bolster is interlocked with respect to the side frame by shims disposed between the sides of the bolster and the guide columns of the frames, each shim having lower flange portions supported by means of the bolster springs, and upward projections interlocking with the bolster to prevent undesired displacement of said shims, said projections desirably having at least one face cylindrical and terminating in radial stop surfaces and cooperating with corresponding surfaces on the bolster or side frame, or both, to provide for lateral angling therebetween while maintaining a normal area of contact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention:---

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one embodiment of my truck.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. plan of one end of the bolster utilized with the truck shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the end of the bolster shown in Figure 3.

Figure. 5 is an end elevation, partly in section, on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the bolster on the line .6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line 11 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a plan of one of the locking shims detached from the bolster and frame.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the shim shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the shim shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional View on the line Il|l of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a side frame and interlocked bolster showing another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 13 is a side'elevational view of the end of the bolster shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view corresponding to Figure 8, but showing the modified two-piece locking shim of Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the shim shown in'Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view on the line 16-46 of Figure 15, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, there is shown a portion of a truck I comprising a pair of side frames 2, only one of which is frag mentarily illustrated. Each side frame comprises a compression member 3, a tension member 4, and bolster guide columns 5 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members and spaced to leave a bolster or window opening 6 therebetween. The compression member preferably comprises a web l2 and depending flanges Q14, and the outer ends thereof slope downwardly beyond the bolster opening to unite with the corresponding ends of the tension member and integral journal boxes, if used, said journal boxes not being illustrated.

The tension member 4 has an intermediate normally horizontal portion 15 generally boxshaped in section, the upper Web portion 9 of which is extended laterally beyond the depending flanges or normallyvertical web portions ll thereof to provide a spring seating portion of adequate area. The spring seating portions beyond. the flanges II are desirably reinforced by triangular gussets IS. The lower web portion I'I beneath the bolster opening 6 desirably terminates between the guide columns 5, or approximately therebeneath, leaving the outer portions:

of the tension member substantially inverted U- shape in section, as will be understood.

The upper web 9 of the tension member is, in the present embodiment, formed with upper longitudinal convolutions or corrugations l8, only one of which is illustrated in Figure 1, each of which preferably starts between the guide columns at a point, as designated by the reference character l9, and extends diagonally upward and outward through the corresponding column to finally merge with the normal plane of the web 9, thereby strengthening the angle between the horizontal and inclined portions of the tension member, as well as providing supplemental or intermediate support for those portions of the tension member between the guide columns and at thesame time providing for the interlocking between the frame and spring plank, if used.

Each guide column 5 desirably comprises a web portion 28 which extends substantially vertically from the compression to the tension member. The sides of each guide column 5 are defined by flange portions 29 extending from the side edges of the web 28 and with their free edges preferably reinforced by beading 30. Said flanges are desirably spaced a greater distance than the width of the convolutions l8 in-the tension member so that they straddle said convolutions and connect with the main web portion 9 of the tension member on either side of the convoluted portion l8 thereof.

In a truck in which the bolster is connected to the side frames in a conventional manner, for example, as shown in the Kadel Patent No. 1,630,567, of May 31, 1927, the guide columns have guiding portions inwardly spaced, as compared with the lower portions thereof,-engaged between lugs on the associated bolster, the planes of engagement being commonly disposed, as shown in the patent referred to, parallel to the longitudinal vertical plane of the side frame. When, through the omission or flexibility of the spring plank, or clearance between said plank and the frames, one frame tends to lead the other, the center ,line of the bolster describes other than a right angle, with the longitudinal vertical plane of the side frame, forming contacts between the corresponding corners of the guide columns and bolster which are theoretically vertical lines, andas the bolster moves vertically with reference to the columns under external impulses, causing movements of the supporting springs, the bolster will speedily wear the contacting corners of the columns until, through wear, sufficient bearing area has been developed, so that any further wear will beat a progressively slower rate. In this process of developing additional wearing surface, the preferred flt clearances between bolster and columns are lost and the actual clearances become too great for correct alignment of the parts.

In order to change this undesirable condition, I form the flanges 29 at the bolster guiding portions of the guide columns 5 with guiding surfaces 31 on planes radial, or substantially radial, from the vertical axis 32 of the frame or the intersection between the central longitudinal plane of the frame and the central transverse plane thereof. The bolster could have flanges or lugs with surfaces formed on corresponding radial planes for engagement with the guiding surfaces 3| on the columns, the included angle between said surfaces being greater than the included angle of the radial column sides by an amount equal to the angle which the bolster is permitted to swing from one extreme to the other, upon departure from the normal right angle relationship with respect to the frame. Because of this radial relationship, movement of the bolster to an extreme allowable angular position would still result in contact on. generally flat surfaces, substantial in extent, rather than with the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse vertical central planes of the side frame. The bolster could be correspondingly formed with convex cylindrical portions interlocking withthe concave cylindrical portions of the guide columns, and be otherwise, than as heretofore described, of conventional construction I have, however, carried my improvement still a. step further to facilitate assembly and provide for quick detachability of the parts upon removal of the bolster springs.

In order to accomplish the foregoing results, I provide a shim 33 between the guide columns 5 and the bolster therebetween on each side of said bolster. Each shim 33, for convenience and economy, preferably has its parts of approximately uniform thickness, and comprises a cy- 55 use of any spring plank, the springs 40 and 44 each shim have flanged portions 31 formed radial lindrical web portion 34. the outer surface of which is convex-to nest with the concave cylindrical surface of the corresponding guide column, and the inner surface of which is concave, about a correspondingly shorter radius, to receive and interlock with a corresponding convex projection 35 on the bolster or load-carrying member The outer ends of the web portion 34 of to correspond with the radial bearing surfaces 3| on the guiding portions of the columns 5 and with guiding lugs 38 on the bolster, which have corresponding radial surfaces extending from the ends of the cylindrical portions 35. In this way, the shims 33 areinterlocked with the guide columns at their outer surfaces and withthe bolster at their inner surfaces so that they serve to interlock the bolster 36 with respect to the side frames, sufficient clearance, however, being provided, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, to permit a limited amount of horizontal angling between the bolster and each frame, while at the same time avoiding any line engagement at the limit of the angling movement, as was the custom when using a conventional bolster and frame'interlock, as shown in the Kadel Patent No. 1,630,567, previously referred to.

In order to hold the shims 33 in place, while at the same time providing for their convenient ap' plication and removal, each'shim is formed with a lower flange portion 39 which overlies portions of the bolster springs 40, and an associated spring plate 4|, if used, whereby, when the parts are assembled, said flanges 39 serve as bases for holding the cylindrical and radial locking portions of each shim in place. The bottom flanges of the shims are further equipped with upward projections 42 fitting into corresponding pockets 43 in the underside of the bolster end to serve as reaction points to resist any possible horizontal component from an eccentric application of spring load to the shim planes which might-tend to cause rotation of the entire shim around a hori- I zontal axis parallel with the bolster axis, and thereby cause the bottom'edge of the shim to draw away from the bolster. locking means 42 may be either in the form of the upwardly projecting spuds illustrated, or of any desired cross-section, or they may be in the form of splines or tenons fitting in grooves in the bottom surfaces of the bolster ends.

In the present embodiment, I have shown the bolster supported at each end, one end only being illustrated, by means of four helical springs 40 and an elliptic spring or set 44 without the resting directly on the upper web 9 of the tension member beneath the bolster opening 6, with or without a spring plate (not shown). Inasmuch as the form of helical elliptic group of the present embodiment necessitates placing the helical springs so that they extend beyond the usual plan contour of a conventional bolster, with which the bolster illustrated approximately corresponds, the flanges 39 of the shims serve not only. as bases therefor, but also as partial spring caps for the helical springs 40. The springs are desirably interlocked with the frame, as illustrated, the helical springs 4|] by encircling upwardly extending lugs 45, desirably circular in plan, and the ellipticspring. 44 by having the lower portion of its band 46 received in a corresponding pocket in the upper web 9 of the frame, which pocket may be defined by an upstanding, substantially rectangular rib or flange 46', as

These auxiliary shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the helical springs 40 are desirably encircled by more than by depending flange portions 41 on the shims 33 and depending complementary flange portions 48 on the bolster 36, therebypositively preventing undesired displacement. The lower web.49 of the bolster is desirably formed with a downwardly opening pocket 50, desirably of a size corresponding approximately with the frame pocket defined by the rib 45; receiving the upper portion of the elliptic spring band to hold said spring in proper position.

Referring now tothe embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 12 to 16, inclusive, there is shown an alternate arrangement in which the bolster 36 is interlocked with respect to the side frame 2 by shim means 33*, each of which is made in two pieces, a bearing piece 5| anad a. base or partial spring cap piece 52. The bearing piece 5| is formed with a cylindrical portion 34 and radial flanges 35*, as in the preceding embodiment. The base or partial spring cap piece 52 is formed with depending flanges or beading 4'! adapted to cooperate with the bolster flanges 48 in centering the associated helical springs 4|) and upstanding lugs 42 adapted to fit in corresponding apertures 43 to interlock the shims with respect to the bolster 36 In order to detachably connect the parts 5| and 52 of the shim 33*, the bearing piece 5|, which may be optionally a casting or a drop forging adapted for economical replacement, if necessary from wear, is formed with an aperture 53 adapted to receive an interlocking lug 54 on an upstanding portion 55 on the base member 52. Said base member desirably has its flange por- ,'tion 39 extended beneath the cylindrical por- .on either side and formed of a contour adapted to snugly receive the upstanding portion 55, which, in the present embodiment, is shown generally T-shape for rigidity. Except for the fact that the locking shims 33 are formed in two pieces and the bolster is pocketed at the sides to receive the upstanding portion 55 con necting the bearing shim and base portions 5| and 52, the present embodiment may correspond with that of the preceding embodiment.

From the foregoing disclosure, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have devised a truck involving a side frame adapted to be connected to and disconnected from an associated bolster, with looking shims disposed between the sides of the bolster and the guide columns, and of such a character that a limited amount of horizontal angling between the bolster and side frames is permitted, with the maintenance of contacting areas regardless of bolster angularity. Inasmuch as the bolster does not have to be dropped for disconnection from the frame, the guide columns do not have to be substantially ofifset away from each other at their lower portions to permit the passage of bolster locking lugs, although I have shown'one form of my invention embodied with a frame in which the lower portions of the guide columns are so offset. It will, therefore, be seen that the lower portions of the guide columns in the first form of my invention are spaced :1 distance approximately corresponding with the upper or guiding portions thereof and extend between adjacent helical springs lll, that is, the spring supporting portion of the tension member is extended so that it is partially separated by the guide columns which will, therefore, lie between portions of the helical springs on opposite sides of the.

longitudinal central plane of the frame.

As will be understood, the assembly of the bolster and side frame may involve merely the insertion of the bolster ends into the bolster openings 6 of the frames when the associated members are in approximately normal relative elevation with respect to one another. The locking shims 33 and 33, depending on whether a bolster 36 or 36 is employed,are then placed by moving the same upwardly between the sides of the bolster and the guiding portions of the columns until they assume the position illustrated in Figure 1, or Figure 12, as the case may be.

After the shims are in place with any form of my invention, the springs may be inserted beneath the bolster and shims, it being merely necessary to move the bolster or frame vertically, one with respect to the other, so that the beading or spring centering flanges 41 and 48 on the locking shims and bolster, if used, and the pocket 50 in the bolster, if employed, properly receive the corresponding portions of the helical and elliptic springs.

Although preferred'mbodiments of my invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and that I may use the various features of my invention dis; closed either separately or in combination, as desired.

I claim:-

1. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, said guide columns comprising transversewebs and side flanges, a bolster received in said opening, and a locking shim disposed between each side of the bolster and the adjacent guide column, each shim having a surface cylindricagy curved about the vertical axis of the frame, a d the engaging surface of the adjacent member being correspondingly curved for allowing relative horizontal angling while maintaining the same area of contact regardless of bolster angularity.

2. A railway truck comprising a side frame having a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing-intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster received in said opening and a locking cylindrical "shim disposed between each side of the bolster and the adjacent guide column for allowingrelative horizontal angling while maintaining the same area of contact regardless of bolster angularity. k

3. A shim adapted to lock s. bolster to an associated side frame and comprising a cylindrical web portion and radial flanges at the sides thereof.

4. A-shim adapted to look a bolster with respect to an associated side. frame comprising an up.- standing cylindrical bearing portion, adapted to lie between a side of a bolster and a guide column of said frame, and a base portion adapted to interlock with an associated bolster and to overlie associated bolster spring means.

5. A railway truck comprising a pair of side frames, said frames involving guide columns spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween,

being correspondingly curved, each shim having an inner surface concentric with its outer surface and the engaging surface of the bolster being correspondingly curved.

6. A railway truck comprising a pair of side frames, said frames involving guide columns spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster with its ends received between said guide columns, said columns each comprising a transverse web and side flanges, said flanges adjacent the bolster ends having outer surfaces formed on planes substantially radial from the vertical axis of the corresponding frame, and locking shim means disposed between each side of the bolster and the adjacent guide column, each shim means comprising a bearing piece having an outer surface cylindrically curved about the vertical axis of the frame, and the engaging surface of the associated guide column being correspondingly curved, each bearing piece having an inner surface concentric with its outer surface and the engaging surface of the bolster being correspondingly curved, and a base for each bearing piece comprising a lower portion adapted to be supported by means of associated bolster springs and a lug portion normally interlocking said bearing piece and bolster. r

'7. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, that portion of the tension member beneath said guidecolumns being adapted for the support of a nest of helical and banded leaf springs and provided with integral formations presenting horizontally curved surfaces for direct positioning engagement with the helical springs and other formations presenting horitions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, a bolster received in said opening, a nest of helical and elliptic springs supporting said bolster from said tension.

member, and spring plate means associated with said bolster and guide columns, said plate means and bolster being 'supported by said nest of springs-and cooperating to provide depending curved rib means on spring engaging surfaces coplanar with the normal lower surface of the supported end of the bolster, encircling each helical spring for more than and a downwardly opening pocket receiving the.upper band of said ellipticspring.

9. Spring cap means for a truck unit comprising helical and elliptic springs, said means engaging the load surfaces of said springs and providing spring-positioning portions lying on all four sides of the spring band of said elliptic spring and depending from spring engaging surfaces coplanar with the normal lower'surface of the supported end of the bolster and encircling each helical spring for more than 10. A shim adapted to look a bolster with re-- base; said base having upstanding means spaced' from said web and adapted to engage said bolster to prevent relative movement therebetween.

11. In a railway truck comprising a side frame having spaced guide columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster received in said opening, and a locking shim associated with each side of the bolster and the adjacent guide column for allowing relative horizontal angling of the bolster with respect to the side frame while maintaining the same area of contact regardless of bolster angularity, said shim being formed in two separate parts, one part of which comprises a bearing piece having a cylindrical portion and flanges substantially radial with respect to the axis of said cylindrical portion and the other part of which comprises a base having an upstanding portion interlocking with said bearing piece and bolster.

12. A bolster formed with gui. ling lugs on each side and adjacent an end thereof, said lugs having wearing surfaces, the planes of which are substantially radial with the vertical axis of an associated side frame, surfaces on said bolster intermediate said wearing surfaces being convex and substantially cylindrical about said vertical axis, and pockets in said bolster sides intermediate said lugs for the reception of means to interlock said bolster with associated shims.

13. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and spaced to leave a bolster opening therebetween, said guide columns having concave surfaces coaxial with the vertical axis of said side frame, and outwardly facing surfaces coradial with said vertical axis, that portion of the tension member between said guide columns being adapted for the support of a nest of helical and handed leaf springs and provided with integral formations presenting horizontally curved surfaces for positioning engagement with the helical springs and other formations presenting horizontally straight surfaces for positioning engagement with a band of said leaf springs.

14. In a car truck, in combination, a side frame having a window opening defined by spaced guide columns, a bolster end extending into said opening, shims interposed between said columns and bolster, each of said shims having a cylindrical web portion and radial flanges at the sides thereof adapted to engage-complementary parts'of the columns and bolster to permit'a horizontal angling movement of the bolster with respect to the side frame, said shim also having a base extending inwardly of the bolster, said shim base and bolster having depending curved rib means adapted to encircle associated helical springs for more than 180 degrees.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

